Central Coast Council P&C (CCCP&C) has welcomed new legislation to introduce age-appropriate consent education in all Australian schools from Kindergarten to Year 10.
Spokesperson Sharryn Brownlee said some of the material was already covered in the Health and PE subjects.
“Bu it was not covered well or consistently in all schools and now it will be mandatory so hopefully we will see the change that is needed to keep everyone safe,” she said.
“A culture of mutual respect must be for all people.
“This addition to the curriculum nicely complements the anti-bullying and anti-harassment teachings also.”.
Full Stop Australia, which provides counselling, training and advocacy to support people impacted by sexual, domestic and family violence, has also applauded the move.
CEO Hayley Foster said the decision followed 12 months of dedicated campaigning by Full Stop Australia Ambassador Chanel Contos and the passionate advocacy of young people throughout Australia.
“This is a generational change that will equip young people with proper knowledge around sexual consent at each level of their education,” Foster said.
“We know from our sexual violence helpline that teenagers are not only the (group at highest risk) of experiencing sexual violence, but also perpetrating it.
“Consent education will mean we can stop it before it starts.
“This is about educating our young people but also changing societal norms and expectations before they have their first intimate encounter.”
Foster said Contos’s campaign Teach Us Consent gained 44,000 signatures over the past 12 months with more than 6,600 people sharing their experiences of sexual assault.
“Ms Contos has been the fire stick that has skillfully harnessed public sentiment to achieve this significant reform that many advocates have long been striving for,” she said.
State and Federal Ministers agreed recently on the addition to the curriculum, which will incorporate understanding of gendered stereotypes, coercion and power imbalances.
Ministers are expected to meet in April to finalise the new, compulsory topic to be introduced next year.
Terry Collins